Surely we couldn’t be any worse than we were in the second half of the last game at Chelsea, we needed everyone to perform but did they……
JOSE SA 6
Nervous start with his distribution on the floor, great save from Havertz. He worries me with the ball at his feet, a simple early pass would help us to break quickly. He was a bit more aggressive at corners and seemed to be calmer in the second half but from where I sit in the Steve Bull, I cannot hear him, surely that is a pre-requite for a keeper.
Nelson Semedo 6
Got down the flanks and tried to cross balls in. He worked hard against Trossard, there was a great ball in for Sarabia who volleyed. He didn’t get as much chance in the second half to cross but when he did, it was blocked or he had to cut back and play the ball back or square. Possibly didn’t close down Calafiori for the goal.
Matt Doherty 6.5
He won his headers today and looked comfortable when dealing with Trossard, as he doubled up with Semedo, broke forward and got a foul which led to a red card for Skelly. Always comfortable at corners, although the quality of these from Arsenal was as bad as ours last season Subbed on 87 minutes.
Santi Bueno 6
A slow start, he got better as the half wore on and slowed things down when in possession. Apart from being strong at corners and set pieces, he didn’t need to make too many last ditch tackles but he found Havertz a handful and dealt with him quite well.
Emmanuel Agbadou 8.5 Man of the Match
Early doors he gave the ball away, got better as the half wore on, winning his headers and duels with Martinelli. He really started to stand out in the second half, brushing off players, using his pace to get in front off breaking players. He showed determination and aggression in his defending and you can see he has quality. This is the second game in 7 days that he has been out in front with his performance level. He gets my Man of the Match.
Andre 6
Coped well with Rice and Partey but he had to do alot of running and tracking. He was turned a few times in the centre of the park but he kept his head, battled on and tried to break up play.
Joao Gomes 6.5
Started the same as Andre, booked for kicking the ball up field after he didn’t hear the whistle. Another workman like performance. A 2nd yellow card for a foul and he gets sent off today. I thought prior to this he had a few niggly moments and should have come off but Vitor obviously thought it wasn’t an issue. You can’t fault his commitment for the cause but there are a few moments in games that can get him in trouble.
RAYAN Ait Nouri 6
He was not in the game for the first 30 mins but did show a few cheeky touches. After the sending off he saw more of the ball and pressed forward alot more, he seemed to prefer to check back rather than run forward into trouble, that’s something that has changed in his game for the better. He should have scored with his breakaway late in the game, a chip of the keeper was on the cards, instead he hit a limp shot at the keeper.
MATHEUS Cunha 5
Slow start from Matheus, he wanted to do too much at times but he slowly brought others into the game. Two chances in a minute brought a save from Raya and another from the resulting corner. Another shot on 85 mins was saved by Raya, he looked disinterested to me strangely in the last 10 minutes and I felt he was far too deep in the second half and ran into blind alleys. Forgive me but why was he walking around in the later stages, it was like this game has gone and I’m done. That’s so unlike him.
JORGEN STRAND Larsen 4
Struggled to hold up the ball and got knocked off the ball too much. Injury after 32 mins forced him off. He really isn’t finding this league easy at the moment (he is not the only one) and perhaps like I said before needs a partner or play in a two up front.
PABLO SARABIA 5
A great opportunity to volley in from a Semedo cross but slewed it high over. Better start from him today and he grew into the game but he couldn’t use his passing creativity due to lack of movement and Arsenal playing a strong defensive midfield.
SUBSTITUTES
Hwang – On after 30 mins, playing a lone furrow up top with little chance to get the ball. Ran the channels but there wasn’t too much service to him. First to have a shot on target. Other than this he didn’t get much service or able to create opportunities, constantly fouled by the centre half and got nothing. 5
Bellegarde – On for Sarabia, little input really, in fact his one foray forward ended in a comical couple of stumbles that led to a goal kick. He really isn’t the player the managers have said he is, too easily knocked off the ball. 3.5
Doyle – Not enough time to make an impact but for me, he needs to come on sooner. N/A
Rodrigo Gomes – Should have started for me, not able to make any impact. N/A
Goncalo Guedes – One great run in possession ended in another player losing the ball but he tried, not able to put a rating for 8 minutes. N/A
I found it a better performance than Mondays second half but I have to say that I found it absolutely bizarre at times after Arsenal scored why our players didn’t move the Arsenal back line. They were walking around and not even trying to make runs behind or across the centre backs. I saw Cunha at one point looking down away from the play behind him and he wasn’t even aware that players were trying to find him. Something is not right again here, the watching executives and chairman from China would have heard the South Bank chant, back the team or sell. Thats a warning ladies and gentleman, we can vote with our wallets.
